Israel’s release of 35 Palestinian prisoners into Gaza on August 17, 2026, marked a rare moment of movement in a conflict defined by prolonged detention and documented human rights abuses. Over 9,400 Palestinians remain imprisoned, with rights groups detailing torture, sexual violence, and deliberate starvation in Israeli facilities. The release, while significant, contrasts sharply with the harrowing testimonies of former detainees describing institutionalized brutality, including rape by soldiers and trained dogs, as reported by Middle East Eye.
Systemic Abuse in Israeli Prisons
Testimonies from former detainees, compiled by the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, reveal a pattern of sexual violence described as an organised state policy, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. The highest political, military, and judicial authorities endorsed this policy, the source said. One 42-year-old woman from northern Gaza recounted being bound naked to a metal table and raped by two soldiers over two days at Sde Teiman detention center. She described being left shackled and bleeding through the night, filmed throughout the ordeal. She said she wished for death, comparing her experience to another genocide behind walls.
Amir, a 35-year-old man held at Sde Teiman, detailed how soldiers forced him to strip before their dogs urinated on him and raped him. He said this continued for several minutes and that he felt profoundly humiliated and violated. Another former detainee, 43-year-old Wajdi, recounted being raped by soldiers and a trained dog, with a soldier later ejaculating inside him while he was shackled. He said he was left in a humiliating position and wished for death, adding that the abuse continued over multiple days.
Khaled Ahmed, a Euro-Med field researcher, emphasized the institutionalized nature of the violence. He said the process was by no means an easy task, noting that survivors described the abuse with every detail etched into their memory. Ahmed highlighted the use of multiple perpetrators and trained dogs as instruments of sexual violence, stating the acts were designed to destroy dignity, bodily integrity, and any sense of safety.
Institutionalized Torture and Legal Justifications
The abuse documented by Middle East Eye aligns with broader patterns of violence in Israeli detention. A 2018 Human Rights Council report cited Israeli forces intentionally shooting 35 children during Gaza border protests, including “unarmed” and disabled individuals. The DAHIYA doctrine, which permits disproportionate military action, has been criticized for enabling such practices. Meanwhile, the BETHLEHEM doctrine—allowing preemptive strikes based on imminent threats—has been used to justify ceasefire violations, according to a 2024 analysis by The Scheerpost.
Despite these accounts, Israeli authorities have not publicly addressed the allegations. The release of 35 prisoners, while symbolic, does not resolve the broader issue of mass detention.
Survivors’ Trauma and Stigma
Survivors of sexual violence in Israeli prisons face profound stigma, particularly women, who often fear social repercussions. Khaled Ahmed noted that women’s bodies in particular were used as a means to blackmail men, with some victims subjected to assault due to familial ties to wanted individuals. The trauma is compounded by the lack of accountability, as perpetrators rarely face consequences.
He said the details the survivors described and the way they relived the emotions and events were overwhelming. He added that some interviewees broke down in crying fits while recounting their stories, noting that the participants’ fear of reprisals and social stigmas around sexual abuse stopped some of them from speaking altogether.
The release of 35 prisoners offers a fleeting reprieve in a cycle of detention and abuse. Human rights organizations continue to call for accountability, with the Human Rights Council urging Israel to halt systemic torture and sexual violence. The international community faces mounting pressure to address the humanitarian crisis, though political divisions persist.
For now, the stories of survivors like Wajdi and Amir remain a harrowing testament to the enduring toll of conflict. Their accounts, verified by Euro-Med researchers and reported by Middle East Eye, underscore the urgent need for transparency and justice in a system where well-equipped institutional logistical settings are used to perpetuate violence.
